Comments for The Chicago Architecture Blog

Comment on Remembering Marshall Field’s by Simply Grand

Simply Grand — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:11:05 +0000

I’m not much younger than most of the people I think of Field’s hard-core loyalists, but I seem to have different memories of the store than a lot of them. I mean, I dislike the Macy’s Collective as much as any of them do, and everybody knows that Macy’s alleged “study” showing that a majority of Chicagoans were either in favor of (or neutral about) the name change were bogus, but let’s face it, the Field’s I knew & loved–the Field’s with departments for Rare Books, Hunting Equipment & Antique Silver–ceased to exist a long time before the name went away. Even so, during its long decline, I continued to patronize the place, and right up to the end, I was there once a week, sometimes more than that. All my clothes came from Field’s, most of my books, plus boxes of loose teas in a dozen varieties and who knows what else.

If all those folks who fondly reminisce about Field’s Christmas windows and wearing their best dress-up clothes to their annual lunch in the Walnut Room had come down more than once or twice a year–and, say, bought something bigger than a box of Frango Mints while they were at it–maybe the store would have survived. You can’t live on nostalgia.

Me? I miss Trend House.

Comment on Review: Roosevelt University Tower by StateStreetKid

StateStreetKid — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:34:37 +0000

This is a fine addition to the skyline, especially the way the tower interacts with the CNA Center just to the north. Considered in the context of being part of a University campus the tower rates an A or 5 stars.

Comment on New Burberry Store Tartan Up Michigan Avenue by Lighting Up Burberry’s Black Box | The Chicago Architecture Blog

Lighting Up Burberry’s Black Box | The Chicago Architecture Blog — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:41:25 +0000

[...] New Burberry Store Tartan Up Michigan Avenue [...]

Comment on Review: Roosevelt University Tower by Stopthepresses

Stopthepresses — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:56:08 +0000

We give it a B

Comment on Review: Roosevelt University Tower by Brianbobcat

Brianbobcat — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:49:09 +0000

Now let’s see how their new athletic/gymnasium building that just broke ground at Congress and Wabash fits with this and the Auditorium Building.

Comment on Chicago Skyscrapers Spawn Folk Art by Editor

Editor — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:30:20 +0000

Sometimes the signs are paid for by the building management. Often these are the better quality signs with the building logos on them. Sometimes they’re paid for by the contractor that is in charge of clearing ice and snow, or the janitorial company if they are not the same entity.

Comment on Chicago Skyscrapers Spawn Folk Art by Joycipoo

Joycipoo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:15:19 +0000

Waste Management is out! Apparently Falling (possibly..) Ice signs are in. Who pays for these? Individual building owners? Don’t give any surrounding communities that suffer from the ravages of winter effects any ideas, please. (Then everyone would want skyscrapers in their town.) But seriously, great informative article, although I might have pointed out that if you hear a sudden ‘CRACK’ for heaven’s sake DON’T look up!

Comment on Slice of Life: The Benefits of Looking Up by Brianbobcat

Brianbobcat — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:14:27 +0000

Imagine what those buildings would look like with the coal sediment cleaned off, like the Old Colony Building did a little while ago. That building looks new now.

Comment on Blue in the Loop by DS

DS — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:02:44 +0000

I didn’t love the CNA building for the longest time, however now with the new Roosevelt University tower completed I finally appreciate it. Seeing the striking deep blue color of Roosevelt against the stark red of CNA from certain angles is very nice.

Comment on New Burberry Store Tartan Up Michigan Avenue by Check-ing in on Burberry | The Chicago Architecture Blog

Check-ing in on Burberry | The Chicago Architecture Blog — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:23:04 +0000

[...] New Burberry Store Tartan Up Michigan Avenue [...]

Comment on Chicago on the Really Tiny Screen by Editor

Editor — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:09:25 +0000

Mentioned in the article. How was the game play?

Comment on Chicago on the Really Tiny Screen by Editor

Editor — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:09:03 +0000

Oopsie. “Shift.” Fixed. Damn you, Autocorrect!

Comment on Chicago on the Really Tiny Screen by Matt

Matt — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:46:42 +0000

Is it really called Need For Speed Shit?
Chicago has been in a couple racing games in the arcade, but not sure about home.

Comment on Chicago on the Really Tiny Screen by nonya

nonya — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:08:15 +0000

There was a windows game years ago (goog … 1999) called Midtown Madness. Despite the Manhattan sounding name, it was set in Chicago

Comment on Status Update: Esquire Theater by Editor

Editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:47:08 +0000

I wasn’t able to visit during what I imagine would have been its best days, but I did see a movie there in 2003. You could still easily tell that it was once a glorious place.

Comment on Status Update: Esquire Theater by STARCHY

STARCHY — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:42:31 +0000

that was a great old theatre – Buzz Ruttenberg screwed it up years/ decades ago but in its day it was awesome.

Comment on Grant Park Renovation Plans Go Underground by Leif Bergstrom

Leif Bergstrom — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:12:28 +0000

The current playground is very popular with swings, slides, and allows parents to enjoy the fun with young children. The new children’s playground is gimmicky, and will not allow the kids to run and play. It looks like a series of
programmed displays which kids will tire of quickly.

Comment on Ugly Building Hides Immersive Art by Joe Zekas

Joe Zekas — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:27:03 +0000

Credit the developer for this, a guy by the name of Gene Callahan. Callahan also rehabbed 1211 LaSalle, another building with Haas murals, and the Webster House, 2150 N Lincoln Park West.

I did some brief legal work for Callahan back in the day. Gene was not your stereotypical developer. Here’s a Tribune story on him:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-04-18/news/9704180113_1_gene-callahan-interfaith-housing-development-corp-vision-house

Comment on Halsted Street Bridge Reopens by Editor

Editor — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:30:37 +0000

I haven’t been up there since the announcement, but I’ll try to take a look this week. I checked the CDOT web site and didn’t notice anything unusual. Maybe one of our readers can help.

Comment on Halsted Street Bridge Reopens by Louise Mintz

Louise Mintz — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:22:12 +0000

Why are there still detours if the bridge re-opened? The detours using Larrabee are a nightmare!! I haven driven this route to work for years, and some days the traffic through that detour is impossible!

Help!!

Comment on Will Chicago Finally Get a New Supertall Skyscraper? by Thomas Rapach

Thomas Rapach — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:32:01 +0000

Aftet reading the articles and a cursory look at satellite images, it seems to me that one major oversight remains: how are all of those 12,000 cars supposed to get there? If you think the Ike and the Kennedy are able to handle the additional volume, then you clearly have not commuted in or out of the city lately. Perhaps if the plans were scaled down on the complex but included a high speed rail from the western suburbs and connectivity to the three rail stations within arms reach of the site, then the logistics begin to make sense. Bill Davies is on the right track but seemingly has not spent enough time in Chicago to understand the grass roots issues we work with on a daily basis. There is opportunity here, and I can see this working, but connectivity from the suburbs to Chicago and from the site of the proposed complex to other attractions in Chicago is essential.

Comment on Saving Michigan Avenue’s Ugliest Building by Editor

Editor — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:26:21 +0000

I never stated that either the Fordham or Elysian are examples of great architecture, and neither is the Johnson Publishing building. And, like the JP building both The Fordham and the Elysian are fantastic examples of the architecture of their time. Ditto for the Park Tower, and every other beige 1990′s-looking skyscraper with a fake mansard roof. 530 years from now people will treasure 1990′s McMansions the same way certain people love MCM buildings today.

Comment on Saving Michigan Avenue’s Ugliest Building by Fred P

Fred P — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:19:21 +0000

[Comment edited to remove personal attack]

With regard to the architecture of the Johnson Publishing building, you have to look at it in its historical context. It was of its time. That’s more than you can say about the Fordham and the Elysian. Both of which are hardly examples of great architecture.

Comment on Grant Park Renovation Plans Go Underground by Editor

Editor — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:49 +0000

Unfortunately, change is difficult for a lot of people, and there is a very vocal minority against this project. They’re used to the old method of urban landscaping, which is very European and traditional, and hasn’t changed in 400 years. This is a chance for the Park District to do its first large-scale modern park residential park (Millennium is for tourists in both design and use). Based on the success of its small-scale attempts (Adams and Sangamon Park, and others), I think this could be really well done.

Comment on Grant Park Renovation Plans Go Underground by Paul Kulon

Paul Kulon — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:34:25 +0000

I was there yesterday as well! looks very promising-